‘Night and day’

“It’s like night and day, compared with August,” said Inspector Samantha Barrett. “Between 7 a.m. and 9. a.m., it was non-stop. People were anxious to vote.”
“Some people had been waiting since 6 a.m.,” said Aaron Siegrist, who was taking names at the door. “One lady brought her 18-year-old daughter who was voting for the first time, and took pictures of her in the booth.”
“It’s a historical event,” said Charlie Curvin, who used the electronic booth to cast his vote for Obama. “This is fantastic, and I’m so proud to be a part of it.”

Like many others, he came to cast his vote in person to be around others who valued the traditional way of voting.

Many people came with their absentee ballots in hand and filled out, but still wanted to stand in the privacy booths to cast their votes, Siegrist said.

One woman said her daughter could see the Labor Temple from where she lived and watched until the line died down before telling her mom to go vote.

“I’m a dog-walker,” said Sita, who didn’t want her last name used. “I couldn’t stand in line with the dogs.” But she was thrilled to cast her vote, she said. “This is big time. This was major.”

An elderly couple that lived across the street said they, too, felt like they had really voted when they walked into those booths.

“The two most exciting times I’ve voted were this time, and the first time,” said Carol Ann, who also didn’t want her last name used. “And the first time was FDR.”

People have been well-behaved, even when the lines held them up, said Patricia Fargo, a volunteer at the polling place. “No matter who you’re voting for, you’re saying, ‘I’m an American. I’m here to vote.’ “